Arrangement for suspending and rotating rollers in chrome plating baths for plating purposes



Apni 5, 1966 F. B. KARLQUIST 5 ARRANGEMENT FOR SUSPENDING AND ROTATING ROLLERS IN CHROME PLATING BATHS FOR PLATING PURPOSES Filed May 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRED a KA/PLGU/Jr Apnl 5, 1966 F. B. KARLQUIST 3,244,613

ARRANGEMENT FOR SUSPENDING AND ROTATING ROLLERS IN CHROME PLATING BA'IHS FOR PLATING PURPOSES Filed May 24, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FAt'D 5. KARLQU/ST ATTORNEY United States Patent ARRANGEMENT FOR SUSPENDING AND ROTAT- IN G ROLLERS IN CHRQME PLATIN G BATHS FOR PLATIN G PURPOSES Fred B. Karlquist, Union, N.J., assignor to Pamarco, Incorporated, Roselle, N.J., a corporation of Maryland Filed May 24, 1962, Ser. No. 197,371 4 Claims. (Cl. 204297) The present invention relates to a method and means for suspending rollers in corrosive baths and particularly to a method and means for suspending and rotating various types of printing or pressure rollers in acid baths so that they will acquire a predetermined coating of a chromium plating.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel plating procedure in which the rollers will be suspended in rotating in the highly acid chromium plating baths without the necessity of utilizing copper suspension means, which results in a relatively large amount of copper going into solution and causing contamination of the bath, with short life thereof.

Another object is to provide a novel chromium plating procedure for rollers in which the rollers are suspended so that they may be rotated and operated in the highly acid bath without requiring the use of copper holder means and without the use of V-shaped supports for the journals or trunnions of the rollers.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactory to provide enclosed suspensions which are supported and may be moved upon an upper rail and which will have a vertical downwardly extending shaft for driving the enclosed end members which carry and support the trunnions or shafts of the roller being plated.

Desirably the end boxes are driven from above the bath and the vertical driving members will extend through the end enclosures to a pinion which extends vertically and in turn drives a helical gear. The helical gear is connected to and encircles a cup which receives and holds the carrying assembly for the ends of the trunnions or shafts of the roller.

Desirably the pressure will be achieved by placing a pressure plate up against a copper stud which will establish the current connection from a copper plate to a stud at the end of the rotatable cup.

The cup, itself, is enclosed in a ball bearing inside of the casing and has an exterior cup to receive and hold the assembly which in turn receives a tapered sleeve to grasp a split sleeve which in turn is mounted upon the roller journal.

The entire unit may consist of a steel housing and the current will pass directly from an interior copper plate to the stub end of the shaft and then to the roller construction which is being rotated and plated in the bath.

Although not restricted thereto the present invention will be particularly applicable to chromium plating baths although it has a greater application to other highly acid plating baths where there is a requirement of about 2 amperes p.s.i. and where it is desirable to obtain a thickness of chromium of 0.0012" per one hour plating. Normally these baths will contain 33 oz. of chromium trioxide per gallon and a sulphate radical ratio of 100:1.

It has been found desirable to turn the roller at a relatively low speed With total immersion rather than to have the trunnions rest upon V members and turn so that the rollers being coated are only partly immersed or only partly contacting the plating solution.

By using a slow speed of about 12 rpm. without uneven movement it is possible to achieve a much better and uniform plating over the entire surface of the roller.

Among the various types of rollers which may be chromium plated according to this procedure are pressure cylinders, printing and embossing cylinders, laminating and heating cylinders and various other types of heavy duty cylinder structures.

Although the device of the present invention is par ticularly adapted to chromium plating baths it may also be utilized with copper plating baths and with cadmium plating baths.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall Within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side perspective view showing the roller together with the suspensions in the manner in Which it may be lowered into the plating bath.

FIG. 2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view showing the journal construction upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view showing an alternative suspension embodiment.

In FIG. 1, there is a top rail A the ends B of which may be suspended by chains or other suspension means.

Desirably a drive motor C is positioned above the top rail with a suitable reduction box D to drive a vertical shaft (not shown) which extends down to the end box E which is movable with the drive motor C. The other non-drive box F is desirably also mounted upon the rail A.

The roller G to be plated has the end trunnions or journals H which are mounted in the cups I and which are driven by vertical shaft extending down through the box IE.

Referring to FIG. 2 the vertical shaft 20 which extends down from and is driven by'the motor C from the reduction box D is provided at its lower end with a pinion or screw 21. The screw 21 will mesh with the gear 22 which may be a helical gear which is held in position on the shaft 23 by the collar 24 which is threaded onto the threaded end portion 25.

The threaded portion 25 terminates in a rounded contact element 26 which contacts and turns against the vertical bar 27 which extends downwardly from the top rail.

The vertical bar 27 carries the electric current and due to its contact against the rounded end 26 will supply such current to the end structure; as shownin FIG. 2 this bus bar 27 is pressed against the member 26 by means of the screws 28 having the heads 29.

The screws 28 extend through the steel wall 30 of the housing. The steel Wall 30 is covered by a plastic sheath 31 which has inwardly directed flanges 32 which will keep it out of contact with the acid solution.

The steel side walls 33 also have plastic covers 34 with the flanges 35 which are directed inwardly and clamped against flanges 32.

The steel roller bearing retainer 36 has an inwardly directed lip 37 which projects through an opening 38 in the steel plate 39.

The steel roller bearing retainer 36 and the plate 39 are covered by the plastic material 40, 41 and the inturned plastic flange 42.

The outer race is held in position by the ring 43 and the inner race 44 and rollers 45 are held on the shaft portion 46.

The methyl methacrylate (or Plexiglas) seal retainer 47 will hold in position the Teflon seal ring 48 which will bear upon the Teflon cylinder 49 fitted on the shouldered portion 50 which terminates in the end flange 51.

The Teflon seal ring 48 will seal the ring 49 and prevent any of the acid bath getting inside the enclosure 52.

The adapter assembly shown in FIG. 2 has a cylindrical recess portion 53 and a conical recess portion 54. These recess portions may receive a split sleeve or a split ring to lock the journal H in position or the journal, itself, may be wedged into the opening and held by any other suitable means so as to turn with the cup member 46.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 3, the rail 75 engages the depending casing 76 having the rotating receiver member 77 by means of the guide block 78.

The guide block 78 has a recess 79 which fits upon the rail edge 80 of the rail 75. By means of the wheel 81 it is possible to move the housing 76 along the rail 75.

The angle block 82 serves as a reinforcement.

The member 83 may be used to act as a stop or to move the structure 76. The wheel 84 may replace a rack and pinion and the enclosure member 85 will engage the grasped rail edge 80.

The vertical member 86 has an angle member 87 which carries an adjustment stop wheel 88.

In operation the entire device as shown in FIG. 1 may be lowered into the bath or elevated out of the bath by overhead suspensions and through the motor C the roller G may be rotated while fully immersed in the chromium plating bath.

It is not necessary to drive the trunnions or journals above the bath nor to support them in V-shaped copper mountings which readily Wear in order to establish the electric current supply.

The entire roller may be immersed and turned while immersed in the bath with slow even movement and the plating taking place over the entire roller surface.

While there has been herein described a preferred form of the invention, it should be understood that the same may be altered in details and in relative arrangement of parts within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed:

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension arrangement for exteriorly chromium and cadmium plating, printing, embossing, laminating, heating, pressure cylinder and rollers with end journals adapted to suspend said rollers while rotating the same in a plating bath comprising atop horizontal support, depending vertical casing members carried by said support and laterally adjustable on said support, the lower ends of saidcasing members being adapted to be immersed in a bath, electrical connection means and gear driving means in said lower ends and'sealing means to seal said lower ends of said casing members so that liquid will not enter said casing members, driven rotatable receptacle cups at the lower ends of said members to receive said end journals, depending electrical connections and drive means in one of said members and plastic sealing means enclosing said members.

2. A suspension arrangement for exteriorly chromium and cadmium plating, printing, embossing, laminating,

heating, pressure cylinders and rollers with end journals adapted to suspend said rollers While rotating the same in a plating bath comprising a top horizontal support, depending vertical members carried by said support and laterally adjustable on said support, the lower ends of said casing members being adapted to be immersed in a bath, electrical connection means and gear driving means in said lower ends and sealing means to seal said lower ends of said casing members so that liquid will not enter said casing members, driven rotatable receptacle cups at the lower ends of said members to receive said end journals, depending electrical connections and drive means in one of said members and plastic sealing means enclosing said members, said cups having rounded end portions within said casing members to contact said electrical connections and adjustment means to press said electrical connections against the rounded end portions.

3. A suspension arrangement for extcriorly chromium and cadmium plating, printing, embossing, laminating, heating, pressure cylinders and rollers wi h end journals adapted to suspend said rollers while rotating the same in a plating bath comprising a top horizontal support, depending vertical casing members carried by said support and laterally adjustable on said support, the lower ends of said casing members being adapted to be immersed in a bath, electrical connection means and gear driving means in said lower ends and sealing means to seal said lower ends of said casing members so that liquid will not enter said casing members, driven rotatable receptacle cups at the lower ends of said members to receive said end journals, depending electrical connections and drive bers and said drive means consisting of a vertical shaft extending down through one of said casing members.

4. A suspension arrangement for exteriorly chromium and cadmium plating, printing, embossing, laminating, heating, pressure cylinders and rollers with end journals adapted to suspend said rollers while rotating the same in a plating bath comprising a top horizontal support, depending vertical casing members carried by said support and laterally adjustable on said support, the lower ends of said casing members being adapted to beimmersed in a bath, electrical connection means and gear driving means in said lower ends and sealing means to seal said lower ends of said casing members so that liquid will not enter said casing member, driven rotatable receptacle cups at the lower ends of said members to receive said end journals, depending electrical connections and drive means in one of said members and plastic seal ing means enclosing said members, said drive means consisting of a motor at the top of one of the casings, a reduction box driven by the motor, a vertical shaft extending down through the casting driven from the reduction 2,762,772 9/1956 Jackson 2042l3 JOHN M. MACK, Primary Examiner.

JOHN R. SPECK, Examiner.

H, S. WILLIAMS, W. VAN SISE, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENT FOR EXTERIORLY CHROMIUM AND CADMIUM PLATING, PRINTING, EMBOSSING, LAMINATING, HEATING, PRESSURE CYLINDER AND ROLLERS WITH END JOURNALS ADAPTED TO SPREAD SAID ROLLERS WHILE ROTATING THE SAME IN A PLATING BATH COMPRISING A TOP HORIZONTAL SUPPORT, DEPENDING VERTICAL CASING MEMBERS CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT AND LATERALLY ADJUSTABLE ON SAID SUPPORT, THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID CASING MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED TO BE IMMERSED IN A BATH, ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS AND GEAR DRIVING MEANS IN SAID LOWER ENDS AND SEALING MEANS TO SEAL SAID LOWER ENDS OF SAID CASING MEMBERS SO THAT LIQUID WILL NOT ENTER SAID CASING MEMBERS DRIVEN ROTATABLE RECEPTACLE CUPS AT THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID MEMBERS TO RECEIVE SAID END JOURNALS, DEPENDING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND DRIVE MEANS IN ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND PLASTIC SEALING MEANS ENCLOSING SAID MEMBERS. 